Invitation Oxford - May 2016 by Invitation Magazines

MAY 2016

Mark C. Cleary

Blake Cannon

Markccleary@gmail.com

blake@oxfordvip.com

(713) 303-8924

Alison Alger

(662) 380-7144

Lee Pittman

(662) 832-1697

(662) 645-3695

alisonmalger@gmail.com

LEGACY R EALT Y

lee.pittman1@gmail.com

#1 Re/Max Team in MS in 2014 & 2015

Starting in the mid $300,000’s Contact Mark Cleary (713) 303-8924

Lots at

The Highlands Starting in the low $100,000’s

(for 1-5 acre lots) 70+ acre crystalContact clear water, Mark #1 Bass fishing lake in Mississippi

The Belmont

1413 South Lamar

Measuring in at just under 1 mile from campus, 800 Park includes luxury features like gas fireplaces, 10 foot ceilings and heart pine floors. Professionally designed, each of the 4 floor plans are one level and have private screened in porches overlooking Pat Lamar Park and Davidson Creek. There is also a pet park that will be private to the 800 Park owners. The 800 Park development has plans to include some specialty retail shops, as well.

Cleary (713) 303-8924 Estimated Restoration Completion Summer 2016

Historic Downtown Oxford Restoration. 4 bedrooms 4.5 bathrooms, a formal living and dining room, superb office, 2 real wood burning fireplaces, 3 porches, boasting a gorgeous screened in porch on approximately an acre corner lot on South Lamar. This once in a lifetime opportunity is finished out with top of the line finishes throughout orchestrated by a professional design team. Come get involved and make this masterpiece your piece of Oxford History.

at 1769 East Jackson

$1,910,000

$499,000 Starting in the low $400’s 4 Bedroom/4.5 Bath

•Large Private Courtyards •Granite Slab Throughout •Stainless Steel Appliances •Wet Bar & Fireplace

•2 Car Attached Garage •Wood Floors •Super close to Ole Miss Campus •Walk-in Closets

129 Sivley

$1,595,000

• Walk to the Square! • Wrought iron courtyard w/ gate • 5 BR/4 Bath • Wolf Subzero show home • 3900 square feet • Marvin doors/windows show home

244 CR 303 (Old Taylor Rd) •Almost 16 acres • 4 BR/3 Bath, 3150sf • gunite pool

$949,000

• Beautifully manicured • Huge custom shop • close to town

The Hamlet 1190-1194 S 18th St. Ext.

Starting in the Mid $300’s

•7150 SqFt (will divide) •Located in the heart of the medical district •3 Office suites •Large parking lot

$850,000

3014 Davis

(Windsor Townhome) •2 Bed/1.5 Bath •Freshly painted •Brand new carpet •Great location

•4 Bed 4.5 Bath w/ Top Notch Finishes •Garages Available

LEGACY R EALT Y

$85,000

313 CR 309

411 Hwy 6 E

•Beautiful 62.76 acre tract •Two ponds •Just minutes to the Jackson & Hwy 6 intersection

•13.3 Acres •High traffic area •Half acre pond •Underground drainage

$558,742

$400,000

106 The Seasons •3 Bed 3.5 Bath •1750 SqFt •Hardwood flooring •Gas Fireplace

$220,000

Search the entire Oxford Market at www.MarkClearyOxford.com and www.OxfordMSHomes.net. 662.234.5621 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655. Each office independently owned and operated. All information deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and subject to change without notice.

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

MAY 2016

ON THE COVER The home of abstract artist JoAnne Oliver and her husband, Gary Wright, in the Highlands is a reflection of their unique and eclectic style. photographed by Joe Worthem

IN EVERY ISSUE

EVENTS

Letter From the Publisher

Move On Up 5K and Fun Run

What’s Happening

Party in the Park

Community Corner

Ole Miss MBA Golf Classic

In Season: Fresh Fish

Oxford Square Open House

116

Out and About

Men of Steel Tournament

120

I Am Oxford: Clinton Smith

St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl

UM Panhellenic Egg Hunt

Miss-I-Sippin’

FEATURES 52 Life’s a Peach

74 Proper Preserving

YAC Art Crawl

Thanks to the work of the Stark family, Cherry Creek Orchards is blooming with this season’s Mississippi peaches.

Patty Hudek teaches the safe and correct way to can fruits and vegetables.

Pampered Paws Egg Hunt

76 Front Porch Society

Multiple Sclerosis Banquet

Thacker Mountain Radio

Foxfire Ranch Blues Festival

100

He’s Got Great Pitch

102

Reads, Beats & Eats

104

Night of Hope

106

Willie Price Art Show

108

OUS Auction

112

Light In April Fundraiser

58 A Tale of Two Kitchens These couples love spending time in their customized kitchens whether it has a country feel or a modern vibe.

The Neshoba County Fair has been a summer tradition for Mississippi families since 1889.

84 A Growing Bond

62 Built with Love

The Bond family grows a variety of crops in their square foot garden.

After a health scare, JoAnne Oliver and Gary Wright were inspired to finish building their dream house in the Highlands.

88 Bold Dreams

70 Supper at the Bhatts’ Vishwesh Bhatt enjoys his work as chef at Snackbar, but his favorite nights are spent hosting supper club with his wife, Teresa.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Lucius Lamar’s love of vibrant colors shines through in the décor of his master bedroom.

91 Taylor Made On Taylor Corso’s blog, Feminist Drilljoy, readers can learn DIY home decorating tips.

88 May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

THE PUBLISHER

ne Saturday in early March my family and I went to the store to purchase two inexpensive clay pots, a can of spray paint, potting soil, and small basil and mint plants. Home we went to paint the pots and decorate them with markers and chalk while enjoying the 60-plus-degree day and sunny skies. The project cost less than $40, but the time my family spent together that weekend was priceless. And that’s what this issue is about. We’ve found beautiful homes and gardens to photograph and highlight, but it’s the people behind them that make the stories worth telling.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

I was so glad to see that early warm March weekend. And despite the few cooler-thanaverage days that followed, it seems spring has finally arrived. This is the time of year when the outdoors becomes a major part of our lives again after many of us have retreated indoors for winter hibernations. We celebrate spring with stories about Cherry Creek Orchard in Pontotoc, where Amanda and Wiley Stark are busy with this season’s peach harvest. We also get an inside peek at the Neshoba County Fair, where generations of families have gathered since 1889, and we tour the breath-

taking lake home of artist JoAnne Oliver and her husband, Gary Wright, whose eclectic and abstract style shines through in every room. Spring is the time to celebrate the envi ronment around you and to share it with others. So grab a clay pot, paint it your favorite color, put a plant inside and take it to a neighbor or a friend. You never know what interesting story they might have to share with you. Enjoy the spring.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

publishers

Phil and Rachel West

editorial

EDITOR IN CHIEF Lena Anderson CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Emily Welly EVENTS EDITOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Caitlin Adams Lanie Anderson Sunny Young Baker Meaghin Burke Melanie Crownover Kate Lechler Ginny McCarley Toni Overby COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson

advertising

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Jennifer Bolton Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Stacey Raper Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Becca Bailey Zach Fields

art

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Hallie Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dianne Bond Joey Brent Elizabeth Evans Ann-Marie Herod Jessica Richardson

production

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Emily Suber

office

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard COMPTROLLER Julie Clark DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008 ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Oxford, send payment of $50 to: P.O. Box 776, Oxford, MS 38655 or visit invitationoxford.com to pay online. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

MAY 2016 TUESDAYS IN MAY Oxford City Market

A weekly farmers market featuring fresh local produce, handmade products and live entertainment. Cash, credit cards and EBT cards accepted. Tuesdays 3-6:30 p.m., Community Pavilion on University Avenue

WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS IN MAY

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CRACKERFARM

Midtown Farmers Market The biweekly farmers market features fresh produce and other food products made from local ingredients, along with live entertainment. The first Saturday of each month is children’s day, with face painting and other family-friendly activities. Wednesdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays 7-11 a.m., Midtown Shopping Center

MAY 6

St. John’s Catholic Church Drawdown A fundraiser for the Clayton Stevens Fund, which benefits Interfaith Compassion Ministries, Love Packs and other local charities. Attendees can enter the drawdown for a chance to win $10,000. Music by the SoulTones. Tickets $125 for two. 7 p.m., Oxford Conference Center

MAY 6

Lucinda Williams The musician performs songs from her newly released album The Ghosts of Highway 20, along with other hits. Tickets start at $40. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., the Lyric

MAY 7

Bike for Badges The 5-mile charity bike race is sponsored by the Lafayette County Law Enforcement Officers Association. $20 registration fee. 8 a.m., Whirlpool Trails Application available at Oxford Police Department, or call Blake at 662-560-8983.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

MAY 5 Old Crow Medicine Show The Grammy award-winning band takes the stage with opening act Morgan Price. Tickets start at $35. Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m., the Lyric

MAY 7

MAY 14

The market, held the first Saturday of the month, features arts and crafts made by local artists and artisans. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Courthouse lawn

Broadcast news anchor, journalist and author Tom Brokaw speaks at the 163rd Ole Miss graduation ceremony.

Oxford Maker’s Market

University of Mississippi Convocation

MAY 9

MAY 21

Hosted by RebelWell, the yoga class is free and open to the public. 8 a.m., the University of Mississippi Museum

Forbidden, Hidden and Forgotten: Women Soldiers of the Civil War Shelby Harriel speaks on the many women who served as soldiers in the Civil War. Hosted by Oxford Newcomers Club, Cedar Oaks Guild, Retiree Attraction Program and Burns-Belfry Museum. A luncheon will follow the presentation. Reserve space for both by May 10. Lecture: 10-11:30 a.m., Burns-Belfry Museum, free; contact Joe Talley at talleyj1946@gmail .com. Luncheon: Noon, Cedar Oaks, $15; contact Rosie Vassallo at rosie@oxfordms.com

Yoga in the Gallery

MAY 12-14

Ole Miss Baseball vs. University of Kentucky Thursday 6:30 p.m., Friday 6:30 p.m., Saturday 4 p.m. Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field

History Revisited

MAY 21

Tunes & Tails The fifth annual event is hosted by the OxfordOle Miss Rotary Club and features an all-youcan-eat crawfish boil with drinks, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. Benefits the Lafayette County Literacy Council. 3-7 p.m., Old Armory Pavilion

MAY 26-30

World Championship Old-Time Piano Contest For more than four decades, this annual event has been held in Peoria, Illinois, but this year the international music competition finds a new home at the University of Mississippi. Under the direction of Ole Miss music department member Ian Hominick, the event will feature workshops, performances, a sing-along, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tune-Ups Partyâ&#x20AC;? and much more. Held at various establishments over Memorial Day weekend. oldtimepianocontest.org

SAVE THE DATE: JUNE Summer Youth Camps

The University of Mississippi Division of Outreach and Continuing Education hosts a series of camps for 1st-12th graders. The programs range from science, engineering and math to art, creative writing and more. For more information, visit outreach.olemiss.edu/pre_college. Registration is due two weeks prior to each session. May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

BIKE & BUILD

University of Mississippi graduate student Annie McClellan will join 29 other young adults on May 21 as they ride their bikes more than 4,000 miles to benefit affordable housing. Along the three-month trek from Charleston, South Carolina, to Santa Cruz, California, the group will stop in 17 cities for build days to assist organizations such as Habitat for Humanity in building homes for families in need. The nonprofit organization Bike & Build was founded in 2009, and in the last 13 years more than 3,000 people have biked a cumulative 1 million miles to raise awareness for the affordable housing cause. Along with physically helping build houses, the traveling group meets with members of the communities they visit to tell stories about their trip and share information about their cause. With several routes to choose from, Mississippi native McClellan knew exactly which one she wanted for her debut ride with Bike & Build. The Charleston to Santa Cruz route includes four days in her home state and a build day on June 10 in Oxford, where she has lived for the past five years. “I grew up in the Delta, and I’ve seen the need,” McClellan said. “I want to make the biggest difference I can in the area where I live.” Each rider has been raising money to help fund the projects, and McClellan is accepting donations until May 21. To contribute to her cause, visit classic.bikeandbuild.org/ rider/8536.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

FRESH FISH

written by Sunny Young Baker photographed by Joe Worthem

t 6 a.m. on most Sunday mornings, Taylor Dillon and his twin brother, Tyler, are most likely loading up their fishing boat on Sardis Lake. Spending time out on the boat with fishing rods in their hands has been a treasured family pastime since the men were young. “We grew up not far from a lake, and our dad taught us how to fish when we were just 4 years old,” Taylor said. Every weekend Sardis Lake bustles with people coming from near and far to cast a line. Sardis does require current fishing and boating (if applicable) licenses for anyone trying to catch fish, but Taylor said the paperwork is worth it because “Sardis has the best fish around.” His favorite is crappie, a type of sunfish most active at dawn and dusk and, according to him, “the best eating fish in the lake.” The end of March marked the official start of crappie season at Sardis Lake, but Taylor says he fishes almost year-round in the muddy waters just half an hour from Oxford. “In the midsummer, we stick to the shady spots, which is where the fish gather. When it’s colder they head to the sandy areas,” he said. “To catch them, I try to be the fish.” His tactic often proves successful; he catches his limit almost every time he heads out. But it’s the whole ritual, not just the fruits of his labor, that he enjoys. “There’s nothing better than a six-pack of beer, a little music and a relaxing time on the lake,” Taylor said.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Taylor usually opts to fish with jigs, a type of fishing lure, but he also stops at SkyMart on College Hill for live minnows, which he says the fish love. His advice for those fishing at Sardis for the first time: “I would tell them to fish for crappie with minnows or jigs, and if you don’t have a boat, you can fish right off the bank. Fish collect there looking to spawn, and they pick up in the heat of summer.” For adventurous types who are looking for a bigger challenge, Taylor suggests giving noodling a try. He noodles every so often, catching catfish with his fist instead of with a traditional hook and pole. “Basically, there are upside-down boxes with holes in them throughout the lake,” he said. “The trick is catching them by sticking your arm in. They attach, and then you pull them out with your bare hand.” When Taylor gets home, his favorite way to enjoy his bounty is to bread and season the filleted fish and throw them right into the fryer. “I discovered Bearden’s [seasoning] a couple of years ago at Kroger, and it’s my favorite product,” he said. “Pair the fish with some hush puppies and homemade coleslaw, and you’ve got my favorite meal.”

Classic Coleslaw recipe by Kimme Hargrove

1 cup mayonnaise 2 Tablespoons white vinegar ¼ cup sugar ½ teaspoon dry mustard ½ teaspoon salt ½ head shredded green cabbage, ¼ head shredded purple cabbage, and 1 peeled and shredded carrot, or 2 bags coleslaw mix In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, dry mustard and salt. Stir in shredded cabbage mix, and coat with dressing. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

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MOVE ON UP 5K AND FUN RUN The Breakfast of Champions 5K and Superhero Fun Run was held April 9 to benefit Move On Up. It included a costume contest, food by Big Bad Breakfast and beer from Yalobusha Brewing Co. photographed by Jessica Richardson

Lyndsey Acree and Alison Weisz

Paula and John Stack with Paul and Pat Ogren

Katie Kowalke and Heather Todd

Joli Nichols, George Mendes and Mac Nichols

Bella and Sarah Vega

Alon Shaya and John Currence

Cassi Jobe and Joeli Beckhum

Brandon Riches and Felix Shipp

John Fleer and Tandy Wilson

Gates and Krisi Allen

Reece and Ryan Campanella

Jennifer Saxon and Jessica Rizzi

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

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PARTY IN THE PARK Family Crisis Center held a party at Avent Park on April 2 for Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month. The family-friendly event included a hot dog lunch and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities. photographed by Joey Brent

Alice Ricks and Nadia Mendoza

Will Grem and Joy Helvey

Jake, Jeb and Jessica Mooney

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Caroline Hon and J.J. Eftink

Lila Agner, Elizabeth Robinson, Jamie Thomas, Eliza Knight and Taishiana Lover

Bethany Aiena and Gabrielle Wawro

Valerie Morgan, Shanekqua Griffin, Tysheann Grant, Jasmine Hannah and Corderica Hale

April Stratton and Allison Crane

Amy, Charlie and Steven Dear

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

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OLE MISS MBA GOLF CLASSIC The Ole Miss MBA program held a two-person scramble and silent auction April 1 to benefit the MBA scholarship fund. The tournament and luncheon were held at the Country Club of Oxford. photographed by Joey Brent

Del Holley and Ann Canty

Johnny Maloney, Andrew Baker, Christian Braswell and J.D. Maloney

Lee and Bo Jolly

Justin Payne, Lucas Harth, Ben Pinion, Brian Hairston and Austin Lanteigne

Chino Gutierrez and John Henson

Lindsey Wood and Jordan Williams

Jeff and Connor Craig

Chip Trammell and Adam Lee

Hayden King and Zack Gray

Ricky Hamilton and Lila Neely

Brianna Beesley and Shelby Buckley

Payton Collins and Jordan Cipcic

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

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OXFORD SQUARE SPRING OPEN HOUSE The Oxford Square Alliance held its spring open house March 19. The family-friendly event included pictures with the Easter Bunny, and arts and crafts on the courthouse lawn. photographed by Joey Brent

Laura and Atley Rice

The Easter Bunny and Brandall Atkinson

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Luke and Audrey Floyd

Zacarah Nelms and Andi Bledsworth

Codie Ritchie and Kristie Willett

names namesFynlee namesand names Missy names Oldnames names

Claire and Mary Hollis Lowe

Byron, Kristy and Dylan Cohron

Meg and Shannon Richardson

Sara, Mary Helen and Chase Pritchard

names names names Emerson names and Jill names Bell names names

Nichole, Lee and Lily Baker

Rachel and William Calhoun

Leslie, Lane Henry and Jason McCormick

Webb and Jack Lewis

Kristen Palmer, Olivia Harper, Ann Frances and Margaret Palmer with Erin and Mary Margaret Harper

William Hunt and David Hicks

Mollye and Evelyn Dee Lee

Josie and Lottie Messersmith

Kari, Greg and Olivia Angelo

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

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MEN OF STEEL USSSA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT FNC Park hosted a baseball tournament on March 18. More than 144 area teams participated. photographed by Joey Brent

Jessica and Molly Embry with Baylie Terry and Bill Embry

Greg and Eli Baker

Jonah, Kerri and Nathan Harrison

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Chris and John Hamm

Frances Lamontagne and Jacki Manning

Lindy Rikard and Max Roberts

Charlie Holmes with Maggie and Bennett Hill

Suzi and Parker Butler

Barbara Ward, Rhonda Kenney and Joe Quay Willard

Jackson and Chris Lee

Cashe Shows, Trip Maxwell and Hayden Campbell

Dexter, Jordan and Sheenah McCollins

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

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ST. PADDY’S DAY PUB CRAWL The seventh annual St. Paddy’s Day pub crawl took place March 19 and included stops at various establishments on and around the Square. photographed by Joey Brent

Eileen Santos and Shane Lawson

Margaret Thompson and Jane Litke

Karen and Thomas Bagby

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Chad Wrenn and Jessica Boyd

Rebecca Bramlett and Shelby Peranich

Josh Harris, Tiffany Robbins and Lauren O’Dell

Amy Holmes and William Cox

Chris and Sarah Kathryn Sanchez

Rory and Michelle Lynch

Marissa St. Peters and Catherine Babb

names namesTodd names and names Ashley names Lynchnames names

names names Wade names Medley names andnames Staci Rice names names

Leigh Ann and Don St. Peters with Sarah and Kevin Dopuch

Kathy and Perry Rowe

Shannon Power, Alexander Aivzis and Jessica Graba

Chloe Kennedy, Alex Labron, Lindsey Muratta and Kristen Schalter

Heather Chalk, Karen Vechart and Matthew Bailey

Penn and Connie Jo Mills

Greg Niles with Tom and Karen Dickey

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

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OLE MISS PANHELLENIC EASTER EGG HUNT Ole Miss Panhellenic held its annual Easter Egg Hunt March 20 in the Grove. The community event included an arts and crafts area and pictures with the Easter Bunny. photographed by Joey Brent

Chad and Annika Dodd

Harper Swanney and Rose Paris

Kate, Anna and Tripp Zemek

James, Grafton and Price Graeber

Riddhi and Rishi Mautiyal

Steve, Jessica and Ward Sowers

Spring, a time for renewal, new life.... why not welcome the season in a new home! Oxford Condominiums

Cathy Sabbatini and Sophie Campanella

408 Andalusia

4Bed/3.5Bath Fynlee, Michael and MissyAttention Old to all details!

This charming home has everything you want with maintenance-free living.

908 Highpointe 4Bed/4Bath Great deal in Highpointe! This condo is in great condition and features 3 bedrooms with 3 baths.

401 Bickerstaff #10 3Bed/3Bath You will not get closer to the Ole Miss campus in such a well planned condominium!

708 Ridgewood

stonebridge

Manor Kaleb, Donna and Madison Strum

3Bed/2Bath Such a well planned community of carefree living. Units are selling as quickly as they are built.

4 Bed/ 2.5 Bath Southern charm at it’s best! Close to parks, schools, and downtown!

802 Birkdale

Beautiful Executive home overlooking Pat Lamar Park with a panoramic view of Lake Patsy. Wellsgate

Cross Creek

One of Oxford’s best kept secrets! Very conveniently located and several great new plans to be built to your liking.

612 Centerpointe

4Bed/4.5Bath Beautiful Craftsman style home in popular Northpointe Subdivision. Inviting fireplace with exposed brick and open entertaining plan.

13 CR (Levee Road) 3Bed/1.5Bath Charming cottage located on a tree covered lot with a convenient location. Great investment property!

300 Winner’s Circle

4Bed/3.5Bath Steeplechase is the location of this soon to be constructed dream home.

313 Fox hollow cove

4Bed/3Bath Taylor-Greene is the location for this well-planned home. So many great features!

Call today to see this stately Colonial homeINin G PEND one of Oxford's most desirable neighborhoods and make this your special home!

2202 Longspur Pointe 4Bed/3.5Bath

Grandiose southern estate home located in Wellsgate subdivision. This home has it all!

810 Brentwood Cove

Mature Crepe Myrtles line the entrance to this private estate home complete with a pool!

1605 Jackson Ave #4 4 Bed/3.5 Bath Just a minutes’ walk to the SQUARE!!

Jamey Leggitt

Jamey Leggitt 662-832-7620

236 St. Andrews 18007 Country wood Cove Circle Splendid home on a quiet You have waited for Cell: 662-832-7620 cul-de-sac in Wellsgate! This home has a Visit jameyleggitt.com this address! • Absolutely Visit jamey@kessingerrealestate.com pool, beautiful kitchen! Everything you want!jameyleggitt.com jamey@kessingerrealestate.com wonderful neighborhood!

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

420 Deer Run

5Bed/3Bath Space galore! This home was built by the builder for his family to reside-well done!

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

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MISS-I-SIPPIN’ CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Miss-I-Sippin’ was held April 2 at the Old Armory Pavilion. All proceeds benefited the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council and the Mississippi Craft Brewers Guild. The event included music, food and beer. photographed by Joey Brent

Thaddeus and Annie Hooper

Freddy and George Ann Ross with Barbara and David White

names Stephanie names names Weiss and names Mary names Ruthnames Womble names

Andy O’Bryan, Joli Nichols, namesGranston names names Boxx,names Lorrin Davenport, names names Mac names Nichols and Wesley Taylor

Amy and Randall Atchley

Andrew George and Derek Brown

Riley Griffith and Megan Ray

names Morgan names Mundy names names and Susan names Westbrook names names

Jack Arnold and Lanier Doty

Betsy Webster and Anna Leigh Phillips

Barry and Jeni Bond

names names Cory York names andnames Sophie names Williamson names names

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Hannah Melby, Sarah Allison Turner and Caroline Melby

Lucas Simmons and Brandon Blacklidge

Cody Parker and Laura Beth Cox

Steve and Leah Wooten

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

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YAC ART CRAWL The art councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly Oxford Art Crawl was March 22 at the Powerhouse. The event included an art display featuring more than 160 students from the University of Mississippi Art Department. photographed by Joey Brent

Tiffany Yancy and Candice Wilson

Beau Bettiga and Sarah Sloan

William Cox and Amy Holmes

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Alix Calon and Dalton Jones

Katelin Davis, Maddie Robinson, Ruhika Roy and Emily Hugo

Jaime Johnson and Sara Wilkerson

Kyonna Upkins, Ashleigh Culpepper, Lonnie Dutreix, Cara Jerozal, Kane Keith and Austin McQuirk

Julie and Caroline Wilson

Cecil Bowers and Pam Locke

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

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PAMPERED PAWS EASTER EGG HUNT Pampered Paws Animal Hospital held a Doggie Easter Egg Hunt March 23. The event featured food, live music and games. photographed by Joey Brent

Maygan and Hayden Jones with Hummer

Lila Stobbe with Tippy Lu

Justin Rogers and Jillian McClure with Ella

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Brook King with Choco

Kaki King and Lindsay Boolos with Winston and Charlie

Thomas and Rachel Berry with Piper

Jordan Davis and Caroline Cooper with Gil and Bebe

Josette Nelson with Banjo and Gumbo

Tori and Chas Ossenheimer with Duncan

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

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MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS BENEFIT BANQUET Omega Phi Alpha sorority hosted a banquet to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America on March 26 at the Jackson Avenue Center. Mary Alexander was the guest speaker. photographed by Ann-Marie Herod

Mary Alexander and Sherry Glover McNeal

Kimberly and Skylar Carreker with Andre Longstreet

Sonquanetta and Garfield Owens

Megan Norphlet and Tim Newsome

Kevin Buford and Torian Carothers

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Breanna Lomax and Janelle Brown

Kelsey Griffith, Michelle Jones and Jennifer Fox

Sparkle Jennings and Breana Cooke

Chrissy Wilson, EbonĂŠ Hubbard and Janelle Brown

Allison Bradshaw and Kalie Price

Chrissy Harris and Alisha Nicks

Jaylen Payne and Kendrick Pittman

James and Ann Herod

Andrew Holbert and Jada Bates

Jeremy Coleman and Gerald McLeod

James Hawkins Jr. and Tabitha Foster

Ty Deberry and Yasmin Glover

Denise and Bianca Glover

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

The Stark family spend summer days tending to a bountiful crop of apples, blackberries and especially peaches at their ever-expanding Cherry Creek Orchard. written by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Spring is peach season at Pontotoc’s Cherry Creek Orchards, where visitors can find more than 25 varieties of juicy Mississippi peaches. Only the most experienced workers are tapped as pickers, ensuring that only peaches that are firm but just turning, with 80 to 90 percent color, make it to the baskets.

Amanda Stark spent a long decade working in a corporate cubicle before she found peace on a Pontotoc peach orchard with her husband, Wiley. “We got this place right around when I quit to be a full-time stay-at-home mom,” she said. “Technically, running the orchard with my husband is full time too, but I didn’t know what I was missing until we came here. It’s a whole new, better life.” An Indiana native started Cherry Creek Orchards in 1980 and later sold it to two brothers from New Orleans. The men then sold it to their cousin, who happened to be Wiley’s grandfather’s first cousin. When the Starks’ home burned in 2003, the couple moved into the house on the property. They

bought the home two years later and couldn’t resist purchasing the accompanying 60 acres later in 2010. “I worked near here on my grandfather’s orchard when I was a teenager, so this really was like coming home for me,” Wiley said. In the past six years, the Starks have tripled the amount of produce from the original orchard, and not all of it grows on trees. The Starks annually harvest apples, plums, blackberries, muscadines, scuppernongs, tomatoes and purple hull peas. But Cherry Creek is best known for its juicy Mississippi peaches. There are more than 25 varieties on the premises, and Wiley plants around 1,000 new trees each year in January. Hand-pruning the

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

“The only thing that gives me more satisfaction than watching someone’s face when they taste one of our peaches is seeing our whole family take pride in them.” -Wiley Stark

orchard begins around the same time and ends in March, when warmer weather usually brings out the first pink-hued peach blossoms. Thanks to the layout, patches of the fragrant blooms pop up in one section of the orchard after another until May as each type of peach tree prepares to bear fruit. Workers thin the trees by hand when the peaches are roughly the size of a quarter in April, and they begin the seasonlong process of harvesting whenever the fruit colors peak. Only the Starks’ most experienced workers are tapped as pickers, ensuring only those peaches that are firm but just turning, with 80 to 90 percent color, make it to the baskets. The couple then take their yield to the public via farmers markets in Tupelo, Oxford, Hernando and New Albany in Mississippi; Collierville and Livingston in Tennessee; and New Orleans. “The only thing that gives me more satisfaction than watching someone’s face when they taste one of our peaches is seeing our whole family take pride in them,” Wiley said. “I love to see the grins on my kids when they help someone carry a basket to the car or cut a

In the past six years, the Starks have tripled the amount of produce grown at Cherry Creek Orchards. Besides peaches, that includes apples, plums, blackberries, muscadines and tomatoes. May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

“Hopefully, this will be a generation-after-generation thing, and my husband and I will be the old couple on the bench greeting people while the younger folks run it. This place was freeing for me, and I want that for them.” -Amanda Stark

piece for someone to sample.” Each of the Stark children – ages 6, 11 and 12 – has specific chores around the orchard to earn money. The oldest, daughter Ambrie, helps run the cash register at the markets; middle child Frank picks and sorts the fruit; and the youngest son, Easton, helps assemble boxes. “The best part of even having an orchard is passing what we know down to them and seeing them get excited about it because they’re the future,” Wiley said. The Starks plan to add more varieties of pears and apples, along with an on-site cannery. Developing the orchard into a wedding venue is also one of their long-term goals. “We’re in this to win it,” Amanda said. “Hopefully, this will be a generation-aftergeneration thing, and my husband and I will be the old couple on the bench greeting people while the younger folks run it. This place was freeing for me, and I want that for them.” The orchard officially opens for the season in late May or early June, and peaches should be available until September. For more information on the farm, search Cherry Creek Orchards on Facebook.

Visitors to the orchard can buy produce straight from the source. Cherry Creek Orchards peaches are also available at farmers markets in Tupelo, New Albany, Oxford, Hernando and more. May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

A TALE OF

TWO KITCHENS

These couples love spending time in their dream kitchens, whether in a rustic house in Taylor or a modern College Hill home.

written by Toni Overby photographed by Joe Worthem

A Rustic Tone

For Angie Sicurezza and Nick Reppond, two self-described “travel bugs” who have lived in places from Canada to the Caribbean, moving to Mississippi was a surprisingly easy decision. Sicurezza, originally from Connecticut, came to Oxford to work as a personal assistant to chef John Currence. Reppond, a Memphis native, spent the majority of his young-adult years traveling coast to coast, never staying in one place longer than a week or two. Like Sicurezza, he also moved to Oxford to work for Currence at City Grocery and his other restaurants. They met through their mutual employer, fell in love, got married and decided to stay in Mississippi for good. “Everywhere I had gone, I was searching for this laid-back, wonderful hospitality,” Sicurezza said. “Coming here, it’s everything I’ve been looking for. I love this small town. It’s impossible to go anywhere and not run into someone you know.” Although the couple lived in Oxford for a few years, they now call Taylor home. They purchased their property from a Taylor family who, according to Sicurezza and Reppond, built the house in 2012 using wood that came from an old barn on their family land. The house was built less than a decade ago, but its burnt wood beams, tin roof and rustic feel give it an air of maturity not found in most new homes. The cozy yet open floor plan drew the pair to the twobedroom home, which features a wraparound porch, lets in plenty of natural sunlight and

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is situated on a large, wooded property. But it’s the home’s kitchen where these food lovers enjoy spending most of their time. The blend of old and new wood in many different textures and colors reflects the couple’s unique style. Every piece, except for the tongue and groove ceiling, is reclaimed. The cabinet facing was built of wood from inside the barn, while the beams, also located throughout the rest of the home, came from outside wood. “They burnt it with a torch, rubbed the ashes off, and covered it with a stain to bring out more attributes of the wood,” Reppond said. While the countertops are a lacquered cherry, the large island is made of walnut and features a stone base. Sicurezza says when the couple host guests, this is the popular gathering spot, which fits their casual and comfortable style. Reppond also keeps it simple when deciding what food to serve guests. “Make it easy on yourself,” he said. “Pick a menu you can do ahead of time. Don’t use too many hot items you have to put out all at the same time. You want to be able to enjoy yourself at your own party. Nobody is happy when the host is stuck in the kitchen.” The couple plan to incorporate this laidback mentality in their new restaurant Grit, slated to open soon in Taylor. The restaurant will have an elegant yet casual ambience that fuses Italian, French and comfort food and will feature patio space and an outdoor fireplace. They have also been running A&N Catering since last May, offering custom catering services for weddings, tailgating, and other large and small events. They’re excited to bring the success of the catering company to their own personalized space at Grit. “We want to be approachable and have people feel really comfortable,” Reppond said. Like their Taylor home, the restaurant will blend rustic with industrial and feature Mississippi touches throughout, including furniture, tableware and artwork, along with as much homegrown food as possible. “We believe in sustainability and using it where we can. We want to grow Mississippi and our community,” Reppond said.

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

A Modern Twist

Andrew and Holli Ratcliffe, with daughters Massey and Eloise, enjoy entertaining guests in their modern kitchen.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Holli Ratcliffe and her husband, Andrew, did not look far or long for a spot to build a new home once they had outgrown their former College Hill residence. After years of walking up and down their small, dead-end street and noticing the 5 acres at the very back, the couple knew it was exactly where they wanted to build. With 200 acres of hunting ground behind the site, the Ratcliffes were able to plan the house of their dreams. “We used a lot of online inspiration. We aimed for the sky, but of course, once you start pricing, you definitely have to come down a little,” Holli said. Their end product is a modern home with an open floor plan and numerous windows that provide plenty of natural light. “We hardly ever turn on our lights during the day,” Holli said, although the Tupelo-based

J. Britt Lighting custom fixtures add an extra touch of individuality. The couple also incorporated some vintage elements in their home, and the blending of old and new is most apparent in the kitchen. While the sleek, push-open, white and wiredmercury acrylic cabinets add to the home’s contemporary style, the open wood shelving holding jadeite tableware contributes to the kitchen’s traditional appeal. Three large windows above a double ceramic sink provide plenty of light to offset the black walls and trim. Holli was inspired to buy the stainless steel appliances and modern sink faucet after seeing similar ones at a friend’s house. Other unique touches in the kitchen include saloon-style swinging pantry doors made of the same wired-mercury acrylic as the lower cabinets. Holli, who for nine years owned and ran

the candy and ice-cream shop Holli’s Sweet Tooth on the Square (the store is now under new ownership and has changed locations), gave a lot of thought to the kitchen “triangle” which refers to having the refrigerator, oven and stove positioned for maximum efficiency. “We eat most of our meals at home, so we needed to be mindful of how we laid the kitchen out,” Holli said. Edye M. Conkerton of ECO Architecture PLLC, out of Taylor, along with Jimmy Mogridge of Spring Construction Group in Oxford, made the Ratcliffes’ house dreams come true. According to Mogridge, while house plans offer layouts, they don’t specify finishes. “Sometimes the style of the house or a reoccurring material or highlight is a starting point for finish selections,” he said. He also explained that the kitchen has many zones. “For example, baking ingredients and supplies can be located near the oven. Seats at an island or counter can be close to the food preparation area for conversation.” This planning is decided before construction, and all materials, colors, appliances and lighting are selected as construction starts. “Sometimes the homeowners know they want a certain countertop or cabinet style and the other finishes are built upon the one item,” he added. This was true of the Ratcliffe kitchen’s white quartz countertops, which were a special request of Holli’s. “The quartz is versatile and stands up to dark liquids, markers, hot pans and two small children,” she said, laughing. Because of their young family, Holli keeps her entertaining style easygoing and prepares as much as she can before guests arrive. “Especially when your kids are younger, you never know when an accident will occur that could set preparation back half an hour,” she said. Having entertained in her new home many times, Holli says that although prepping allows her to enjoy her guests, sometimes it is not possible to have everything together ahead of time. “A lot of times guests come when I am still preparing, and they will pitch in and the get-together becomes a community effort. This makes the kitchen so important to our home.”

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

JoAnne Oliver and Gary Wright’s house in the Highlands is more than a place for the couple’s art collection and travel keepsakes; it’s a symbol of hope. written by Lanie Anderson photographed by Joe Worthem

JoAnne Oliver describes her home as “the house that love built,” and for good reason. In 2006, she and her husband, Gary Wright, purchased land in Oxford with the goal of one day building a permanent home, but a family crisis prompted more immediate action: Wright was diagnosed the following year with myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of leukemia. In Orlando, Florida, where he was working, doctors gave Wright a grim diagnosis: He had only six to eight months to live. They referred him to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee for treatment. “We started building the house right after

Artist JoAnne Oliver’s abstract and eclectic style is reflected throughout her house in the Highlands. A light fixture made of wine bottles and a wooden porch swing are the centerpieces of the living room.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Along with Oliver’s original artwork, the house is full of pieces created by artists the couple know personally. The pieces have been carefully selected and come from places all over the world where they have traveled.

I spoke with the oncologist,” Oliver said. “He told me to build it because Gary needed something to hope for.” The couple never gave up hope, though, and after a successful stem cell transplant, Wright made a miraculous recovery. He and Oliver returned to Oxford, finished building and moved into their new home in 2009. The couple have spent the last seven years adding personal touches to their house located in the Highlands, just east of Oxford on Highway 278. Oliver, an artist, has never confined herself to rules of design, either in her own artwork or in her home’s décor, so the features of her house are eclectic, from the quirky light fixtures and the funky concrete countertops to the porch swing – made by friend John Bishop of Hot Springs, Arkansas – hanging prominently in the middle of the living room. “The swing is the heart of the home,” Oliver said. “It’s too hot, too cold or too muggy outside, so I wanted it in the living room.” The aesthetic charm of their home has attracted many visitors, but it is representative of something more for Oliver. Her own abstract paintings hang on the walls, along with many pieces of artwork made by artists she knows personally. Two pots hanging above the televisions in the living room were made by Arkansas artist Kari Albright, Camp Ozark’s summer arts-and-crafts director for 35 years. Oliver also purchased a large broken heart made of clay and bicycle parts from artist Obie Clark’s master’s thesis, completed in 1968 at the University of

“We started building the house right after I spoke with the oncologist. He told me to build it because Gary needed something to hope for.” -JoAnne Oliver

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Mississippi. The broken heart sits on the coffee table in the center of the home, and Oliver calls it “the anchor that brings everything together.” “[My husband and I] love knowing the people whose work we have,” Oliver said. “It’s like having those people with us, although they aren’t here. There’s only one artist we haven’t met out of all the artwork we have in our home.” The couple buy pieces for their home together, and each has a story, like the wooden table from Myanmar in the dining room and stained-glass windows in the transoms that came from various pubs and churches in England. “Our home is a concrete shell with our art and travel treasures,” Oliver said. “Fortunately, we have the same tastes. We both love abstract art and the voice of abstract, which is wonderful.” Oliver’s favorite room is her art studio, which has large windows and overlooks Highlands Lake. Since she was a child, Oliver said, she saw the world in abstract form, so she feels

like her art studio is a space for creativity. “I love the color and composition of abstract work,” she said. “Abstract is all about the play. There are no limitations.” Oliver particularly likes textures, and her home and artwork include a variety of them. When she creates abstract artwork, she hopes the onlooker will want to touch the piece when it is finished. “The first thing I think about is what I can do to take the viewer forward so that he actually wants to touch something,” Oliver said. “I think art should be something that’s handled.” One of Oliver’s large paintings hangs front and center above the fireplace in the living room. It’s composed of fabric cut into squares and placed on a grid with letters spelling out Forever Young scattered on the canvas. “My favorite lyrics of all time are from Bob Dylan’s Forever Young,” Oliver said. “Every single word of that song tells you exactly how you ought to live your life.”

Oliver enjoys spending time in her art studio, which overlooks Highlands Lake. It’s her favorite spot to hone her creativity and imagination and create bright and bold abstract paintings.

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

May your hands always be busy, may your feet always be swift; May you have a strong foundation when the winds of changes shift. May your heart always be joyful and may your song always be sung; and may you stay forever young. One of JoAnne’s favorite pieces she’s created is a canvas containing letters that spell out Forever Young. The lyrics to the Bob Dylan song resonate with her and Wright, who is a cancer survivor.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

SUPPER

AT THE

BHATTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Vishwesh Bhatt enjoys his work as chef at Snackbar, but his favorite nights are those spent at home hosting supper club for friends with his wife, Teresa. written by Toni Overby

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

photographed by Joe Worthem

Vishwesh Bhatt didn’t always plan to end up in Oxford. His father taught at the University of Mississippi, but Vishwesh, who was raised in India, never considered moving to Mississippi until a visit to a couple of Oxford’s most beloved establishments changed his mind. “I realized any town that could support a place like Square Books and the Hoka had to be a really special town,” he said. In 1992, he packed his bags and began graduate school at Ole Miss. To help pay for nights out in Oxford, he started working at various restaurants and eventually discovered his love of cooking. “My mother was a great cook in a large family,” Vishwesh said. “Mealtime was always very important and very special. I had all these memories I didn’t really think about until I started cooking during these jobs and realized I enjoyed that aspect of it.” After culinary school at Johnson & Wales University in Miami and stints at restaurants throughout the country, Vishwesh and wife Teresa returned to Oxford in 2001, and Vishwesh began working on the line at John Currence’s City Grocery restaurant. In 2009, he opened Snackbar, the (then) fourth restaurant in the City Grocery group. For the past seven years, the oyster bar and “Southern-style French cuisine” bistro has proven to be one of the most popular restaurants in town, and Vishwesh’s work has garnered much attention. Most recently he was a semi finalist for the 2015 James Beard Award for Best Chef: South, his third short-list nomination. Vishwesh said one of the many things he loves about Oxford is the diverse clientele who frequent Snackbar. He has even been known to invite some of them into his home to cook something special for them. “Cooking is a part of my life I enjoy, and I

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

When itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Bhattsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; turn to host the monthly supper club, Vishwesh often experiments with new menu items for the restaurant, Snackbar. Teresa takes pleasure in hosting guests who are happy to indulge, like Mac Nichols (pictured bottom left).

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

“One of my favorite times is when we are sitting around a table having a meal, a glass of wine, talking about whatever nonsense there is to talk about. To me that’s what life is about … when you’re done working and just sitting with friends and family, having a meal together.” -vishwesh bhatt

really enjoy sharing it with friends and family,” he said. “I don’t have great stories to tell, but I can cook, and we can share a meal.” One of the Bhatts’ favorite things to do is host a monthly supper club with friends. Although the club rotates houses, Teresa takes pleasure in hosting. “Vish will do a more elaborate meal than we would have on a normal day,” she said. Vishwesh said that he will often experiment on the club when creating a new menu for Snackbar, which the guests seem to enjoy. “But if our night to host falls on a Sunday after a football weekend and I’ve been at the restaurant, it’s going to be spaghetti and meatballs or something simple like that,” he said. Teresa likes to embrace the laid-back vibe and make her guests feel comfortable. “We’re not superformal people at all,” she said. “We use what we have. We rarely even pull out the china. It’s mostly about hanging out. There’s enough space in the kitchen to watch Vish cook, and the food is the added bonus.” Chef Bhatt’s biggest tip for entertaining is to be unafraid to invite people into your home, even if you don’t have anything special planned. “We’ve met really great friends just by inviting random people over. There’s nothing people love more than not having to cook,” he said, laughing. “It doesn’t matter if you’re making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. “One of my favorite times is when we are sitting around a table having a meal, a glass of wine, talking about whatever nonsense there is to talk about,” he continued. “To me that’s what life is about ... when you’re done working and just sitting with friends and family, having a meal together.”

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

PROPER

PRESERVING

There’s more to canning than just screwing a lid tightly on a jar. Patty Hudek teaches the correct and safe way to preserve food. written by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem

atty Hudek thought she knew almost everything there was to know about canning food until she started working for the Mississippi State University Extension Service – Lafayette County in 2011. “I would actually stand beside my grandma while she canned when I was little, but I found out when they sent me to my first class on it here that I knew nothing about the safety side,” Hudek, an Illinois native, said. “I was shocked when I realized she hadn’t canned correctly all those years. Thankfully none of us ever got sick, but I knew I had learned all wrong.” As the extension’s family and consumer science agent, Hudek sees her canning students come to the same realization all too often. Reusing commercial jam jars for home canning and flipping jars upside down after processing, like her grandma did, are just two of the most common errors the students inherit. “Sometimes I think my students with absolutely no experience have an advantage,” she said. “The rest have to get back to that clean slate and learn that canning is a science. It’s not up to the cook. It’s one of those things where there’s no wiggle room or cutting corners when it comes to the rules.” But before they can get to the rules, everyone has to learn the basics. There are only two types of canning from which to choose, the boiling water bath

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method or pressure canning. Which type a cook uses depends upon the acidity of the food being canned. In general, water bath is for fruits, pickles, tomatoes, jams and jellies; pressure is best for meats or vegetables because they are processed at a higher temperature to reduce risk of botulism and other food-borne illnesses. Whatever method the students use, Hudek emphasizes that the right tools are a necessity. All canners need a supply of lidded jars, towels and paper towels to wipe rims and wrap jars in before setting them on the counter. Both a reliable timer and a utensil set with a funnel, jar lifter and canner rack are essential, and plug-in roasters come in handy for keeping jars warm. There are specific needs for each type of canning, as well. The boil method can work in any pot with a tight lid that can also accomodate a canning rack, a contraption that keeps jars from coming into direct contact with the pan. The most recommended cooker for dial- or weighted-gauge pressure canning is the Presto Pressure Canner, a more expensive investment that Hudek says will last for years if cared for properly. “It seems like more people tend to be afraid to pressure can because they think it could blow up, but there’s little chance of anything bad happening if you don’t rush the process and follow directions,” she said. “It takes patience and time to do any type of canning, and those

things cannot be compromised.” Tomato recipes are typically the easiest to begin with, although jams and jellies come in a close second, only because sometimes it’s hard to master consistency. Specifics for the canning process differ by recipe. “I hate to be so strict, but I won’t recommend any recipe not advised by the USDA or tested by an extension office,” she said. “It’s too much of a risk to chance using a goodsounding one you see on Pinterest or even one passed down by family.” The canning rules are numerous and at times frustratingly stringent for a reason. Just letting the water level get less than an inch above the jar lids or not keeping jars warm enough before filling could mean starting the entire process again to prevent bacteria growth. If the seal hasn’t set within 24 hours, jarred foods may even need to be reprocessed, or the contents must be eaten within 24 hours to avoid contamination. The limitations are so exact that Hudek suggests seeking additional sources such as Ball Blue Book for information if you don’t want to attend a workshop. “That time you put in to do this right is worth it. Canning is just another part of that movement toward sustaining ourselves,” Hudek said. “Knowing what is in your food is a much bigger deal now.”

Spiced Blueberry-Peach Jam 4 cups chopped or ground peaches (about 4 pounds peaches) 4 cups blueberries (about 1 quart fresh blueberries or 2 (10-ounce) packages unsweetened frozen blueberries) 2 Tablespoons lemon juice ½ cup water 5½ cups sugar ½ teaspoon salt 1 stick cinnamon ½ teaspoon whole cloves ¼ teaspoon whole allspice to prepare fruit: Sort and wash fully ripe peaches; peel and remove pits. Chop or grind peaches. Sort, wash and remove any stems from fresh blueberries. Thaw frozen berries. to make jam: Measure fruits into a kettle; add lemon juice and ½ cup water. Cover, bring to a boil and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sugar and salt; stir well. Add spices, tied in cheesecloth. Boil rapidly, stirring constantly, to 9°F above the boiling point of water, or until the mixture thickens. Pour immediately into hot, sterile canning jars to ¼ inch from the top. Seal, and process 5 minutes in boiling water bath. Makes 6 or 7 half-pint jars. Recipe courtesy of The Complete Guide to Home Canning, Mississippi State University Extension Service – Lafayette County. May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

Brightly hued cabins are at the heart of the Neshoba County Fair, where families gather for oldfashioned summer fun. written by Caitlin Adams photographed by Joe Worthem

For one week every summer

in Philadelphia, Mississippi, hundreds of confetti-colored cabins bustle with late-night laughter, live music and the smell of deep-fried Southern hospitality. Locals, displaced Southerners and those just looking for a good time flock to the cabins for a weeklong extended family reunion: the Neshoba County Fair. The cabins – used only for a few days or weeks each year – are treasured family heirlooms passed down through generations since the fair’s start in 1889. Philadelphia natives may move across the state, or the country, but the fair pulls them back home every July. “We’ve raised our children there,” said Oxford resident and Philadelphia native Dorothy Howorth, who has been going since she was a little girl. “It’s our Christmas. It’s the glue that holds the whole family together.” The draw to the fairgrounds proves that the fair is much more than cheering the horses at the racetrack and visits to Lindsey’s Lemonade; it’s a bastion of Southern culture. The Grandstand and the Pavilion on the sawdust-covered Square have seen their share of political campaigns, including those of John Glenn, Michael Dukakis and Ronald Reagan.

Since 1889, the Neshoba County Fair has drawn families and friends to Philadelphia, Mississippi. For one week every summer, they kick back and enjoy “Mississippi’s Giant Houseparty.”

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Dorothy and her husband, Tom, still coown two cabins in the fairgrounds’ Founder’s Square, even though Dorothy hasn’t lived in Philadelphia since she was in high school. As she puts it, the fair, nicknamed “Mississippi’s Giant Houseparty,” is a must for family members and friends. “It’s a chance for everyone to be a child again,” she said. “You don’t miss it. If you apply for a job, you say, ‘I can start tomorrow, but in one month I have a commitment.’ ” Dorothy’s grandfather built the family’s first cabin, 22, and it’s where the entire brood – aunts, cousins, friends, neighbors – still gathers for daily meals. Her father later purchased and renovated their second abode, cabin 4. Outfitted with two- and sometimes three-story porches, the cabins are stacked side by side and look more like confections than respites from the summer heat. The ground floor is for living – telling stories into the early morning, playing poker or hula-hooping under the porch lights. The upstairs is built for one purpose: to pack sleepy fairgoers in wherever there is an empty pillow. Rooms mimic dormitories, with walls lined with bunk beds and floors covered with sleeping pallets for one large sleepover. “Within cabins, there’s no such thing as privacy,” Tom said. “If you’re the last one in, you don’t turn on any lights; you just slide into your spot.” Between cabins, that’s much the same. “I remember I could wake up in my bed, reach out the slot and tap the guy who was sleeping in the house next to me,” said Oxonian Steve McDavid, whose mother, Sylvia Sanford, was a Philadelphia native. Steve’s family are on their third cabin after, as family lore goes, his grandfather gave away the family’s first cabin to a friend whose house

Favorites such as funnel cakes, frozen lemonade, horse racing, an antique car parade and live music are just a few of the highlights of the fair. Top left: The band And The Echo performs at cabin 22.

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

burned down shortly before World War II. The McDavids’ second cabin was torn down four years ago to build the new three-story, 24-person sleeper cabin that sits on Silk Stocking Row. Steve and his wife, Rosie, wake up every fair morning with a front-row view of the state’s only legal horse race track, and that location makes their porch host to the unofficial Miss Neshoba County Fair Pageant watch party for friends and neighbors. “The fair is very much a front-porch sort of society,” Tom said. The pageant is just one night of many festivities in the fair lineup. Attendees are hardpressed to find downtime during the seven-day affair as they skip from cakewalks, dance parties and a midnight sing-along to the talent show, rides on the merry-go-round and the antique car parade. “The night rolls into the morning,” Rosie said. “The grandmother on the porch next to me is up later than I am.” “That’s fair time,” Steve said. “You kind of lose touch with the rest of the world.” Across the fairgrounds, cabins have signature accents that are synonymous with the cabin numbers – it’s a porch swing for cabin 205 and an iron bed in front of cabin 4. Inside, full spreads of local vegetables, fried chicken and caramel cakes are balanced against fair décor – strewn holiday lights, colorful folk art, and vibrant quilts and tablecloths. While the eclectic cabins host a myriad of weeklong shenanigans, it’s the community they foster that leaves a lasting mark. “It’s not really the house,” Rosie said. “It’s the experience with the friends. The fair is the fair, no matter what the cabin looks like.”

Many cabins have stayed in the same families for generations, and each is unique and creatively decorated. The front porches, like the McDavids’ (pictured top left) are popular spots for guests to gather.

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

written by Caitlin Adams photographed by Joe Worthem

The Neshoba County Fair lifestyle doesn’t stop at the county line. The Graduate Oxford, a boutique hotel just off the Square, paid homage to the fair through one of its restaurants, Cabin 82. The café, named in honor of the cabin owned by the Manning family, has plenty of design influences straight from the fairgrounds. “We were kind of inspired by all things county fair,” said Andrew Alford, chief creative officer for AJ Capital Partners, which owns the Graduate. “We knew we wanted it to have this homespun, general store-meets-front porch feel.” Reclaimed wood paneled walls house a bevy of fairlike design elements, including a porch swing, quilted upholstery and a front counter covered in ride tickets. The kitchen serves up plenty of Southern classics that can be found on picnic tables around the fairgrounds, including chicken and biscuits and lemon icebox pie. But perhaps the most nostalgic design element inspired by Neshoba County is a hand-painted replica of the sign that hangs above the Williams Brothers General Store, a historic retailer in Philadelphia, Mississippi. The store is a mainstay for fairgoers when it’s time to cook supper, and its bacon is served to patrons dining in Cabin 82. “You can buy everything from sliced bacon to a saddle,” said Cooper Manning, senior managing director of investor relations for AJ Capital Partners, who spent his summers bagging groceries at the Williams Brothers store. The fair may happen for only one week every summer, but its reach is felt year-round. “It’s an institution like no other,” Manning said.

The Graduate Oxford hotel pays homage to the Neshoba County Fair with Cabin 82, a café named after the fair cabin owned by the Manning family.

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May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

The Bonds created a favorite spot to spend time as a family with a technique called square foot gardening. written by Lena Anderson photographed by Dianne Bond of Bella Vie Photography

On a warm and sunny spring day, Emily Bond slowly walks around her two raised flower beds and carefully inspects her garden. She plucks a weed from the strawberry patch, repositions a pebble in her fairy garden and checks the progress of her potatoes. At just 10 years old, she already knows it should take 70-120 days for them to fully grow, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve already begun to sprout. Her mom, Dianne, helps her tighten the yarn that sections off the flower beds into a grid of 12-by-12-inch sections. Each square 84

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

The Bond family’s garden consists of flower beds sectioned off in 12-by-12-inch plots where they grow a variety of plants. A vintage sink and homemade signpost add personal touches to the space.

contains a different crop planted beneath its soil. Parsley, sage and lavender, along with various fruits, vegetables and flowers, grow inches away from each other in the small plots. The technique is called square foot gardening and was created by Mel Bartholomew in 1981. Dianne’s husband, Stephen, found a book on the topic two years ago, and Dianne decided that even though she had little experience gardening, Bartholomew’s process seemed simple enough for her family. “I don’t have much of a green thumb, but there is pride in being able to grow vegetables in your own backyard,” Dianne said. “And [with this technique] once you get it laid out and set up, it’s really easy to keep up with and maintain.” The premise of square foot gardening is to make the most of a small space. Instead of the long rows of a standard garden, Bartholomew’s process contains plants in a concentrated area. He gives guidelines about how many plants can be planted together per square foot (one small tomato plant, four strawberry plants or 16 radish plants, for example). This process simplifies maintenance (less space means less legwork for weeding and watering) and helps create living mulch, which also cuts down on the amount of weeds that grow. There is also a science to picking which plants should grow near each other. Companion planting offers guidance to gardeners on which vegetables and flowers support or inhibit the growth of other plants. “With 64 squares in two 4-by-8 raised beds, there is more than enough room to grow vegetables for a family of three, leaving plenty of squares open for flowers and herbs,” Dianne said. May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

“Little touches make the garden extra special. It’s the perfect place for morning coffee, a peaceful spot for Emily to do her schoolwork and a place to simply hang out as a family.” -Dianne Bond 86

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

For several years, the Bonds raised chickens that grazed the yard and lived inside the red and white chicken coop the family built; Emily Bond enjoys planting seeds and tending to her square foot garden.

Though the Bonds live on 4 acres just outside of Oxford, a smaller garden was preferable. In order for it to thrive and to keep the deer out, they needed to build a fence but didn’t want to ruin the sunrise view of their east-facing back porch. Sectioning off a smaller space in their yard was a more ideal option. They put up dark fence posts and rustic wiring, and adorned the fence with twinkling lights and a hand-sewn pennant banner. Along with the two raised beds they built from scratch, their garden sanctuary is complete with an antique sink, a colorful signpost marking places they’ve been, and heirloom pieces of enamel from Dianne’s grandmother. “Little touches make the garden extra special,” Dianne said. “It’s the perfect place for morning coffee, a peaceful spot for Emily to do her schoolwork and a place to simply hang out as a family.” Emily’s involvement with the garden goes beyond digging in the dirt. She started a newsletter, How’s the Garden Going, to inform family and friends of the happenings at home. She penned articles on gardening tips, wrote about the family’s chickens and included special guest articles from her grandmothers and cousins. Dianne also draws artistic inspiration from the garden. As a professional photographer with her business, Bella Vie Photography, she often takes pictures of the scenic spot. Some of her favorite shots are the ones of her daughter tending to the garden. “I love watching children grow through photographing them,” Dianne said. “Being able to create beautiful things in both my photography and in the garden that my family built is a blessing.” May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

ARTIST LUCIUS LAMAR’S LOVE OF VIBRANT COLORS ISN’T LIMITED TO HIS LANDSCAPE ART; IT ALSO SHINES THROUGH IN THE INTERIOR DESIGN OF HIS TAYLOR HOME. written by Toni Overby photographed by Joe Worthem

The master bedroom in Lucius Lamar’s Plein Air home is a work of art. The walls and drapes are a rich, deep turquoise color Lamar found on a chart of historic colors. After poring over paint choices to find the right shade of blue, he matched it to a velvet fabric and made drapes. The soft but sturdy textile does more than block light; it muffles sounds and blends perfectly with the walls, creating a calm space.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

“I wanted to cover the four windows in the bedroom to block out all the light so I could do some serious dreaming. That’s where the creative magic happens in my thought process,” Lamar said. The Oxford native and University of Mississippi alum makes his living as an artist but also has plenty of experience in home design. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from Ole Miss and a bachelor’s degree in environmental design from University of California Los Angeles, which, according to Lamar, is “just fancy terminology for interior design.” While creating art has always been his main vision, he previously was a partner in a design company that produced mass-market decorative accessories. “The idea was to make everyday necessities artful and beautiful,” Lamar said. His years with the company, which took him as

far away as Asia, gave him the opportunity to practice many aspects of interior design. Lamar and his husband, Kerry Hamilton, now split their time between two sides of the country. “We have a home and a painting studio in Taylor, and Southside Gallery [in Oxford] shows my work. We also live in California, so I also have a boutique art gallery there.” The Palm Springs studio’s name has a deeper meaning than just paying homage to his Mississippi alma mater. “The idea of calling the gallery Rebel was born from not wanting to be conventional. We do it a bit differently,” he said. Back in Taylor, the couple’s master bedroom is anything but conventional. Dark wood furniture, along with intricate decorative pieces such as tapestries, sculptures and paintings, are all anchored by an Oriental rug. A set of

Chinese fretwork screens hang on either side of the small hallway right outside the bedroom door. “It’s the magic carpet ride to La La Land,” Lamar said, laughing. When decorating any room, Lamar’s advice is to give it some serious thought before diving in: “Nail down the program first. Make a clear plan for the function of the room and how it will best be used. Drop those pieces in place.” He says finding the right scale and balance is the largest part of the design process. He also stresses the importance of building the design of a room around a specific and meaningful piece. “I bring into my interiors what I really cannot live without,” Lamar said. For him, this would be art, but for someone else, it might mean something different. “The piece needs to mean something and tell a story, or it doesn’t belong,” he said. Lamar advises against being predictable and rushing too soon to complete the decorating process. “I’m not one of those who strives to get the perfectly appointed room and then keep it just that way. It’s an ever-changing opportunity at our house. I think the most successful interiors tell the story of the person who lives there,” he said. “Keeping it simple and

livable is the best advice. But don’t forget your punctuation marks. You live there. Say it loudly.”

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

Taylor Corso’s DIY blog, Feminist Drilljoy, helps residents turn generic rental properties into personalized spaces they can call home. written by Ginny McCarley photographed by Joe Worthem

Taylor Corso already had

movers scheduled for the next day when she first walked into her rental house a little over a year ago. She signed her lease before seeing it because of its great location – just off the Square and an easy walk to her job at City Grocery. But when she picked up the keys and stepped into her new home, she realized it needed a little love. Luckily Corso was up for the challenge. Her mother drove up from the Mississippi coast, and the two worked for days deep cleaning and painting the entire home, creating a fresh palette for Corso’s creativity. As she continued to fix up the house, Corso began posting pictures and updates to her Twitter account, @TheFemKilljoy, where she currently has more than 9,000 followers. Soon, people were asking if there was a place

On the blog Feminist Drilljoy, readers can learn Corso’s DIY tips and tricks on how to fix up a rental house with a small budget. One of her favorites is a picture ledge that she frequently updates by swapping photos.

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

to catch up on the posts they missed during the day. She began chronicling her DIY journey on a blog, which she named Feminist Drilljoy as a play on her Twitter handle. “And that is how the blog was born,” Corso said. She gave almost every surface of the house a fresh coat of paint, including the floors. When she first moved in, she scrubbed down the dingy wood surface and painted them a deep, warm red. “It was such a cool house with great bones,” she said, noting the home’s original built-in bookshelves and beautiful, old doors. “But I wanted to make the house something that was really mine.” Corso completed a number of projects around the house, but her favorite was a picture ledge in the dining area. The two parallel wooden beams are a focal point of the room and are a special way to display both art and

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

personal pictures. On the ledge, she displayed a number of photos, including a print of her grandmother in 1917 and a picture of her mother in her 20s on a four-wheeler with a Budweiser in hand. The picture ledge provides more freedom than a gallery wall, Corso explained, because the images can be easily rearranged without damage to the walls, which is ideal for someone who has put down a security deposit. “It’s something anyone can do that is really inexpensive. It’s something that can evolve,” she said. “It’s my favorite wall in the house because it is always changing.” While most DIY blogs and television shows are geared toward homeowners, fixing up a rental can be more of a challenge. Corso shows her readers how simple, inexpensive changes can make a huge difference without damaging the house or breaking the bank. “There are a lot of things you can do for a

rental,” she said. “Almost all landlords are very willing to let you make changes.” For those renting, Corso suggests buying furniture in neutral colors so that it can be used in different spaces later, and using mirrors to make spaces appear both brighter and larger. “My big secret is using mirrors,” she said, adding that hanging mirrors across from windows will let in the most light. “They open up everything and make it look so much bigger while functioning as art.” Corso, who graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in May, wants to continue writing her blog and fixing up homes wherever she lands in the future. She hopes to one day move to New Orleans and completely restore a historic house. “No matter where I go, I’ll always see a home for its potential,” Corso said. Visit feministdrilljoy.com or follow @TheFemKilljoy on Twitter and Instagram.

Corso advises renters to think creatively with their spaces. Something as small as rearranging furniture can make a huge difference to the feel of a room.

May 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD

2016

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THACKER MOUNTAIN RADIO SHOW Thacker Mountain Radio hosted its weekly radio show March 24 at Off Square Books. David Tran, winner of the annual writing contest Elvis Meets Einstein, was a featured speaker. photographed by Joey Brent

Katie Draeger and Marilyn Frey

Anne Freeman and Kell Kellum

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2016

David Tran and Derrick Herriell

Kathryn York and Andrea Demarcus

Lucy Ann Bartlett with Fran and Will Foley

Bethany Cooper and Mark Wilkinson

Beth Ann Fennelly, Tom Franklin and Keith Lee Morris

Mason and Charlene Baker

Dave Kirslis and Andrea Demarcus

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FOXFIRE RANCH BLUES FESTIVAL Foxfire Ranch in Waterford held a blues festival March 26. The event included live music by a variety of regional artists. photographed by Joey Brent

Paula Kelsall and Ralph Blaine

Sandra and Henry Cummings with Carl Smith

Brooks Bolen and Shellie Wood

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Mallorie Hand and Austin Pounders

Leona Harris and Rita Williams

Cody Watkins and Stephanie Steen

Sheila and Michael Coleman

James Daigley and Little Joe Ayers

Cindy Neal and Erin Vickers

Brian Laprade and Christina Torbert

Helen Cooper and Libby Rae Watson

April Bullard and James Bouler

John and Nicky Eichensehr

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HE’S GOT GREAT PITCH CONCERT Live Music Resource presented He’s Got Great Pitch, featuring a singing performance by Ole Miss baseball player Brady Bramlett. The concert was March 28 at the Inn at Ole Miss. photographed by Joey Brent

Jordan Boyd and Serena Smith

Jessica McEachern and Clark Bartholomew

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Kathryn and Kennon Hood

Jane Walman and Douglas Vance

Sarah Nichols, Olivia Sanders and Faith Janicki

Olivia Schnetzler, Megan Young and Ashley Berry

Darrell and Pat McDaniel

John Schuesselin and Joe Stennett

Natalie Martinez, Brady Bramlett and Madi Osias

Kelsey Knecht and Mary Margaret Hyer

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Barbara and Rodney Baine

Brinkley Gaia and Diane Hollingsworth

Matt Denny and Katie Kennedy

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READS, BEATS & EATS FUNDRAISER The Lafayette County Literacy Council hosted its annual fundraiser April 1 at the Lyric. Food was provided by chef Paige Osborn, and Mustache The Band performed. photographed by Joey Brent

Ann Morgan Graham, Beth Sanders and Sarah Seibert

Vicki and Elizabeth Fowlkes with Toya McClay and Tom Fowlkes

Angela Stringer and Sarah McLellan

Denny and Bonnie Seibert with Kittie and Tom Herndon

Sharon Andrews and Edye Conkerton

Natalie Hodges and Misty Houston

Brett and Lindsey Estes

Margaret and Kat King

Mark Yacovone and Bethany Cooper

Olivia Lee and Monica Eppert

Tyler and Lindsey Meisenheimer

namesAndi names Bedsworth names names and Robert namesSaarnio names names

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Jennifer Yancy and Sarah Frances Hardy

Leigh Carole and Brian Mullins

Jessica and Bryan Mathias

Moni Simpson, Emily Suber, Joey Brent, Hallie Thomas and Mary Moreton

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NIGHT OF HOPE/REBELS FOR LIFE FUNDRAISER A fundraiser was held April 7 at the Powerhouse to benefit the American Cancer Society. The event included live music, food from local restaurants, a raffle and a silent auction. photographed by Jessica Richardson

Abbi McDonald and Austin Wilker

Ian Rone and William Fisher

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Katie Chesteen and Karmen McMinn

Mandy and Donnie McCord

Andrew Shaw and Jessica Rogers

Megan Rush and Haley Haskins

Lauren Hinds, Megan Dinsmore, May Ly and Stephanie Grayson

Brogan Allen and Kristina Gautier

Cassandra Johnson and Mardienell Mathis

Shakayla Yates and Sierra Francois

Check out the

Fridays are tasty at INVITATIONOXFORD.COM! Visit our food blog for delicious recipes contributed by food blogger Kimme Hargrove each week.

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WILLIE PRICE SCHOOL CHILDREN’S ART SHOW Willie Price Lab School held a children’s art show April 8 in Kinard Hall. Students created pieces influenced by artists Piet Mondrian, Theora Hamblett and Jackson Pollock. photographed by Joey Brent

Malayna and Alicia VanLandeghem

Cody Ritchie and Kristie Willett

Ava Nemesek, Kayla McIntyre and Journee McGee

Amelia, Ford and Kenna Armstrong

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Neeli and Cannon Kirkendall

Misty, Jackson and Derek Cowherd

Fred Permenter, Rob Williams and Sally Permenter with Dot, Mary Cates and Robert Williams

Khloe Lyn Wood and Robert Bradford

Michelle and Maria Fudge

Olive and Afton Thomas

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OXFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL AUCTION Oxford University School held an auction April 8 at the Powerhouse. The theme was Lights, Camera, Auction and included food from local restaurants and live music by the Whiskey Barrels. photographed by Joey Brent

Alice Porter and Misty Parmer

Carolyn and Sam Davis

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Harland and Maygan Jones

Bill and Elizabeth Ritter

Bill and Dianne Arnold

Wendy Rose and Christy Bray-Jones

Corey and Alison Alger

Louise Vigeant and Wilco Van Hoogstraeten

Ramiro and Cristel Munoz

Stephen and Katherine Pannel

Frankie and Roberts Wilson

Angie and Aaron Getz

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LIGHT IN APRIL FUNDRAISER A fundraiser for Move On Up Mississippi was held April 8-9 and included a concert by St. Paul and the Broken Bones at the Lyric. Visit moveonupms.org for more information. photographed by Jessica Richardson

Shannon White and Olivia Lyberg

Floyd Cardoz and David Black

Becky Currence and Wright Thompson

Jennifer Ballard and Amy Felder

Carmen and Johnathan Mattox

Macon and Andy O’Bryan

Katie Adams and Katie Brick

Carol Coker and Sam Rising

Helen Cumbee Corey and Hanna Teevan

1400 University Ave • Oxford, MS 38655 • 662.234.3232

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Cris Hughes and Bess Currence

names names Valerienames Moss and names Hardy names Andrews names names

names names Clint names andnames Janna names Crockett names names

Caroline Cummings and Laurel Bane

Sonya and Ross Bjork

Augusta and Nick Weaver

Virginia Rundle and David Swider

Zach Tutor, Jacob Agner and Joel Avey

Andrew Lintner and Lucy Lancaster

Lee, Rebecca and Susan Tyner

Wren Greene and Catherine Daugherty

Olivia Cooper, Drake Davis and Kelby Cowan

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OUT AND ABOUT DEDICATION OF THE CHAPEL AT PLEIN AIR

Geoffrey and Julie Yoste

Davis McCool and Lucy Chiniche

Leighton McCool and Jessica Perkins

ROY BLOUNT JR. BOOK SIGNING

Debbie and Rick Bullett

Miriam Moyer and Doris Strange

LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS SENIOR DAY

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Kate and Charlie Roos

CHANCELLORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOUSE MAGNOLIA TREE DEDICATION

Lafayette High School Tennis Team

Alexis, Lee, April and Chad McLarty

Richard Howorth, Joan Griswold and Roy Blount Jr.

Debbie Swindoll and Ashley Smith

P.J. and Will Pearson with Taylor Jones, Tom Stone, James Griffith, Craig Pinter and Bobby Wolfe

Bobby Wolfe and Damond Louis

Emily Newton and Randall Haley

OXFORD WRITES WORKSHOP

David Waddell and Julie Cantrell

Bill Purcell and Sandra Jackson

Sherry Cooper and Brenda West

OLE MISS MEN’S TENNIS CRAWFISH EXTRAVAGANZA

Jessica Rizzi and Lou Burney

Joseph and Jean Robinson

OLE MISS MEN’S TENNIS TEAM VISITS LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY

Lafayette Elementary School second-graders with the Ole Miss men’s tennis team

DELLA DAVIDSON RECYCLING GRANT

Anthony Matelic and Joseph Poff

Laurie Beth Ellis and Michelle Robinson

PUCKER POWER’S LIPSENSE DEBUT PARTY

Pam Horton, Katherine Montague and Renee Stewart

WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT

Alex Stephanou and Kelli Kitch

Shellie Harrison and Deetra Wiley

Demetria Hereford and Jaqueline Vinson

Kamel Vijayakumar and Al Ling

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CLINTON SMITH interviewed by Lena Anderson

University of Mississippi alumnus and Veranda magazine Editor in Chief Clinton Smith discusses his new book, his Southern ties and his love of flowers.

Q: What inspired you to write your book The Romance of Flowers? What was the process like? A: The book’s publisher suggested the concept and I was on board with the idea from the beginning. Everyone loves flowers, so I said “Why not!” It wasn’t always easy but you can’t really complain when you are lucky enough to be working with beautiful content like flowers. Q: A loved one sends you your favorite bouquet. What’s in it and why? A: I’ll take any sort of flower, anytime! There are certain things I don’t like – such as super-fragrant lilies on a dining table that can overtake any other sense of smell or taste – but I’m not really picky. Q: As editor in chief of Veranda magazine, what does a typical workday look like? A: No two days are ever alike. Back-to-back meetings fill most days and I spend a lot of time with our art director. During certain times of the year, I can often be found traveling. I do a lot of editing from my iPad when we’re on deadline. Q: You graduated from Ole Miss? What do you love best about Oxford? A: There’s a real sense of community in Oxford. Many college towns are divided between the locals and the students. In Oxford the two are so intertwined, which gives people a sense of inclusion and really being an integral part of the town.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE ROMANCE OF FLOWERS

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Q: You returned last year for your book signing at Provision Oxford. Was it good to be back? A: It’s always great to be back. I’m usually in town just about once a year and I always make my rounds at most of the restaurants downtown! Thankfully Oxford is a great walking town after you’ve had a big meal!